Frinton waterspout may be behind wind damage, says tornado group

Damage to trees and a house on the Essex coast could have been caused by a rare waterspout, tornado researchers have said.

People in Frinton-on-Sea reported at about 11:40 BST that strong winds had hit, causing damage in the areas of Rainham Way and Stansted Way.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) said it was not clear yet whether it had been a tornado or just strong winds, but it was possible it had been a waterspout after similar reports in Kent earlier in the morning.

Resident Gillian Lamb said “leaves and sticks were doing a little swirl” and “did whoosh all around”.

“It wasn’t a normal sort of behaviour for [the leaves],” said Lamb, who was out in her garden at the time in nearby Newport Way.

“Then the rain came a bit heavier and then we just went inside because obviously it had got too difficult to garden.”